FOR HOSSLER, THERE’S NOTHING LIKE WINNING

Going two years without a title, 18-year-old thrilled to claim prestigious SCGA Amateur

CHULA VISTA 
For all of the hoopla surrounding some heady accomplishments the last couple of years, Beau Hossler had gone wanting.

Not for recognition, not for praise, not for opportunities.

He wanted a win. He’d played in two U.S. Opens as a high schooler, but hadn’t lifted a trophy in two full years since capturing the 2011 Callaway Junior World at Torrey Pines. And if you don’t think that wears on a golfer of his talents, you’d be wrong.

“There is no substitute for winning, that’s for sure,” Hossler said on Sunday after he scored the most significant victory of his life.

The 18-year-old from Orange County shot 2-under-par 70 at San Diego Country Club to close out a three-shot win in one of the country’s oldest golf championships, the 114th SCGA Amateur.

Hossler scored 8-under for 72 holes in his first appearance in the tournament, whose enormous silver trophy is etched with names of winners such as Al Geiberger, Todd Demsey, John Merrick and the guy who happens to be No. 1 in the world right now, that Woods fellow.

“Tiger’s name is on there, so that’s important,” Hossler said with a grin.

“It’s a good feeling when you beat everybody out there and beat such a great field. I’m very fortunate to have won this tournament. It’s obviously a big deal, which is why I played in it.”

San Diego Country Club head pro John Osborne said he thought the winning score would be around 4- or 5-under. Osborne said the course played as hard over four days as he’d ever seen it.

“For Beau to shoot 8-under, that’s some classy golf,” Osborne said.

San Diego State junior Xander Schauffele trailed Hossler by one going into the final round, but couldn’t apply enough pressure, shooting only even-par 72 to take solo second at 5-under. It was the second straight year the Scripps Ranch High alum has been the SCGA’s runner-up.

Schauffele, 19, made three birdies, but also had a double bogey and was most disappointed with making only par on the back-nine par-5s when he was able to go for both greens with second shots from the fairway.

“Beau is not a player who’s going to give back. … I was trying to put a bit of pressure on him, but I didn’t pull through,” Schauffele said.

“I definitely could have won this. Beau’s a really good player, but either of us can beat each other when we’re playing well. That’s all I need to know. If I’m playing well, I can hang with him. That’s enough for me to fall asleep at night.”

Hossler’s win seemed like something of a cruise, but it was hard work, given that he started the tournament 3-over through his first seven holes as he adapted to the Crisco-slick greens. Impressive is that he was 11-under over the last 65 holes, suffering only five bogeys in that stretch.

On Sunday, he lost his lead early with bogeys at Nos. 3 and 5, but made birdies of 15 feet at 6, 5 feet at 7, 30 feet at 12 and 6 feet at 16.

“I putted great, and today I hit the ball well,” said Hossler, a soon-to-be freshman at Texas. “I’d say course management was the best part of my game this week. I didn’t get out of who I am as a player.”

Four golfers tied for third at 3-under, including Chula Vista’s Tyler Torano, an upcoming senior at Loyola Marymount, and 46-year-old Pasadena banker Dan Sullivan.

If Hossler remains an amateur as expected, he will have a chance to defend his title next July when Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club hosts. San Diego has been good to him so far.